Wal-Mart or Target?

[gris gris]

If Target did 1/2 the business Walmart did in a day there store would be trashed too....

ANd it has a LOT to do with the clintele that shop at the stores -some Walmarts are very clean worked in one 5 yrs ago that was in a nice small city 2-3,000 people so it was kept up very well. On the other hand there were about 4 other WM's in the area that were horrible -ones I wouldn't step foot into -of course I wouldnt' be driving on that side of town for any reason either.

Targets are ONLY put in good neighborhoods where people take care of things and not throw merchandise on the floor - drop it & not pick it up, etc...

Interesting - I live in a small town with high incomes (it's a tourist town). Our Walmart is actually very nice, it was recently renovated with earthy brown paint, soft lighting and hardwood floors. It is definitely not trashed, it's very clean and the people working there are friendly and fast.

However, I rarely shop there (see previous post!). Their products just aren't as good. I bought DD a nightgown there and after about 1 month it was all pilly and crappy looking. Nightgowns from Target don't have this problem. It seems to me like Walmart stuff isn't very high quality and falls apart while Target's is higher quality and lasts longer.

 

[elizke]

For me it's hard to answer the question. The Walmart in our area is nice and clean and cheap and is a Super Walmart. Just as an example, the milk is by far cheapest and has the best expiration dates. And the people are nice. Just can't be beat. And there's usually plenty of lanes open and I even occasionally find clothes I like for me and for the kids. They even hold up too.

The Target here is nice, but only carries a few groceries, and the milk is more expensive and frequently about to expire. I have SO much trouble with out of stock items there, even early in the day. And man there are some snooty people working there! It is in a very decent area, but just not well run I guess.

But I see going to Walmart as more of my routine; a job. When I go to Target, I fall under whatever happy drug they put in the air there and buy beautiful things and come out to the parking lot with a loaded cart wondering what hit me.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Our Wal-Mart isn't dirty or over-crowded, but they do space their racks too close together to get a shopping cart between them, which I find really annoying, and the few children's clothing items I've bought there have fallen apart after a washing or two. They never have enough registers open, so it takes forever to check out, even at "off" times. Target always has plenty of registers open. I rarely have to wait long there, even at busy times.

Between our WalMart and Target, prices don't differ by much on same-brand, same-size items. The big price differences I've seen are in clothing, and you definitely get what you pay for. Target kids clothes are so much cuter and hold up so much better. Heck, I'll even buy clothes for myself at Target (have two Izaac Mizrahi swimsuits from Target I get tons of compliments on), while Wal-Mart... blech, I've never had an article of women's clothing catch my eye when walking through that store.

 

[Jrsy Boy]

The trend on this thread appears to be that the only reason to shop Wal-Mart is for the low prices. Part of keeping the prices low is having fewer employees working, which is why you have trouble finding someone to help you and the place is a mess, and to push their suppliers to continually lower their prices, which results in lower profit margins (and eventually a lot of overseas production) and lower-quality products. So, when you shop at Wal-Mart for the lower prices remember at what cost you are doing this.

Also, read The Wal-Mart Effect; it is an eye-opening book.

 

[jx3smom]

I totally love Target and have only been in a Wal Mart twice and that was at least 12 years ago.

 

[truebelievers]

Target! Ah, I could live in that store. I refuse to set foot into Wal-Mart. Flat-out refuse. Target does retail with dignity and grace and some serious style. That's why I love it.

 

[OK!]

Love Target!

We love their brand of food items they carry. I forgot the name right now. But they have some very yummy Black Bean Jalepeno tortilla Chips and dark chocolate rasberry covered almonds. Mmmmmm!

Not to mention the Key Lime Cookie Straws and Key Lime and White Chocolate Chip cookies. Those should be illegal.

That said, since there's no SuperTarget near me, I do find myself at Wal-Mart more for groceries and stuff; their prices are so much better than regular grocery stores it's ridiculous.

 

[toocooltobeMom]

Walmart is where I buy. Target is where I look around. Have you wonder why Target is cleaner? There is simply not enough shoppers there to create any mess. As long as it saves me money, I am there.

 

[wvjovifan]

I much prefer our Walmart! Target never has a very big selection of anything that I am interested in. We have a small Super-Walmart nearby and I guess it has to do with management. It is always super clean and well stocked and I usually find whatever I happen to pop in for. I do admit, there usually aren't enough registers open, especially on Friday nite.

 

[minnieandme]

Target has nicer things though, better meat and decent casual clothes.

Be careful about buying meat in Super Target. There was a report last month about their meat and how they package it. Read this article:

http://www.wsbtv.com/station/9527107/detail.html

 

[Hixski]

Not to mention the Key Lime Cookie Straws and Key Lime and White Chocolate Chip cookies. Those should be illegal.

That said, since there's no SuperTarget near me, I do find myself at Wal-Mart more for groceries and stuff; their prices are so much better than regular grocery stores it's ridiculous.

Being that I see you live in St. Louis, are you aware that Walmart is trying to put our local grocery chains out of business. I would hope everyone would not be happy having Walmart as their only choice if something like this happens. Their prices are lower for a reason and it is the workers that suffer. Your tax dollars have to pay for their health insurance as they can't afford their own.

 

[rparmfamily]

No contest-TARGET! Even if I have to pay more, it's worth my sanity. Why shop somewhere I don't like, it's my money.

 

[Jrsy Boy]

Be careful about buying meat in Super Target.

On that same note, are you aware that if you buy North Atlantic Salmon at Wal-Mart, it is actually farmed in Chile? And, trust me, "farming" salmon is not even remotely similar to fishing...

Your tax dollars have to pay for their health insurance as they can't afford their own.

Sad but true...for all of the millions that Wal-Mart rakes in, in several states they are the corporation with the highest number of employees on public assistance for health insurance. Part of that is, not unlike a CSI episode, if they keep an employee's hours below 40 per week, they are not required to provide insurance. They are gradually phasing out the full-time employees. Don't even get me started on McDonald's employment policies...

 

[toocooltobeMom]

Stop defending small over-priced grocery stores. How many of these "little guys" that you know of offer free health insurance to their employees for real? No that many white collars jobs nowaday have full benefits anymore. so stop bulls-eyeing Walmarts (frequent media target), look further.

 

[Maleficent13]

There is a local grocery store in my hometown that provides excellent wages, and full benefits to their employees. I always shop there for my groceries. Their prices are not all that much greater than WalMart or the grocery chains, and their quality is infinitely better.

As far as "white collar jobs" and benefits go, I have never held a job that did not provide me healthcare either free or at a vastly significant discount.

 

[Golf4food]

The trend on this thread appears to be that the only reason to shop Wal-Mart is for the low prices. Part of keeping the prices low is having fewer employees working, which is why you have trouble finding someone to help you and the place is a mess, and to push their suppliers to continually lower their prices, which results in lower profit margins (and eventually a lot of overseas production) and lower-quality products. So, when you shop at Wal-Mart for the lower prices remember at what cost you are doing this.

Also, read The Wal-Mart Effect; it is an eye-opening book.

Amen. As one of my economics professors in college liked to say, "Wal-mart is the anti-Christ of the American economy." (And he was Jewish. )

We prefer Target for the same reasons as everyone else: cleaner, nicer stuff, etc. We can't wait to get a Super Target on our side of town. There is one across the river that we went to a few months ago, but it is waaay out of the way, and with gas prices what they are...

In the meantime, we go to the local super wal-marts when we have to, but try to stick to Publix and Target. Prices are the same except on the cheap crap at Walmart that falls apart in two days anyway. Why waste the money on something that doesn't last?

My DW used to swear by Wal-Mart, but I have since "converted" her away from the dark side. (Sorry, Star Wars Episode II was on TV last night... )

 

[Hixski]

Stop defending small over-priced grocery stores. How many of these "little guys" that you know of offer free health insurance to their employees for real? No that many white collars jobs nowaday have full benefits anymore. so stop bulls-eyeing Walmarts (frequent media target), look further.

Dh works for one of these "little guys" chains as you call it. They still have free health insurance. Just have to pay a 10 dollar co-pay to go to the doctor. My white collar job has a small co-pay also. Shop at Walmart if you wish. I won't as they are trying to put my DH's company out of business. So I will keep on bulls-eyeing Walmart thank you very much.

 

[toocooltobeMom]

Who's going to pay me more for spending extra $$ so that your little guys can get premium wages working there? Talk about fair. Can you say the same about little known gas station charging more just for the same reason?? give me a break.

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

Stop defending small over-priced grocery stores. How many of these "little guys" that you know of offer free health insurance to their employees for real? No that many white collars jobs nowaday have full benefits anymore. so stop bulls-eyeing Walmarts (frequent media target), look further.

A friend of mine works for Wal-Mart, she's on state medical for her health insurance because to insure her and her son would take up 75% of her paycheck. They pay her next to nothing and she's miserable but it was the only job she could find.

All of the local grocery stores here offer free health insurance not to mention decent wages.

I will not step foot in Wal-Mart, the stores around here are nasty as are the customers. I can get better prices at Target, Fred Meyers, and Safeway without having to give money to the evil empire.

 

[Dianewes]

I like Target becuase it is "nicer" than WalMart.... but WalMart is cheaper , so I do go there from time to time (Whan I have time,. it is ALWAYS packed!!)